Meter-box cover



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M: h m S 5% .v m Q 9 m. m M m ATTORNEY A ril 15, 1924. 1

A. C. SPITZNAGEL METER BOX COVER Filed Aug. 22. 1921 WITNESSES Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

ALFRED o. srrrznnenn, or SAND srnmes, OKLAHOMA.

METER-BOX COVER.

Application filed. August 22, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. Srrrz- NAGEL, a citien of the United States, residing at Sand Springs, in the county of Tulsa 'and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Meter-BOX Cover, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to meter box covers.

The object is to provide a cover with a removable lid for meter boxes or curb boxes which, after the same has been properly applied to the said box, with the upper surfacefiush with the surface of the ground or sidewalk, may be easily and quickly detached from the cover frame by the meter reader to expose the said meter and as readily applied in position again to cover the interior of the box.

- Another object is to provide a lid for meter boxes which may be manipulated in a rotary manner to permit the same to expose the inclosed meter, but is prevented from being entirely detached therefrom to avoid losing or misplacing the same.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification; it beingunderstood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the meter box cover and lid; Fig. 2 is an inverted lan view of the same, the lid being locke Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through the cover and lid, the lid being shifted to the unlocked position;

Fig. 4 is a detail setional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Serial N0. 494,267.

' The cover and lid of the present invention are designed primarily for circular boxes for water meters or other meters, the same being constructed so as to be readily bolted to the upper end of a length of iron pipe of appropriate diameter to fit the cover and to house the meter, the upper end of the pipe or casing lying substantially flush with the surface of the pavement, ground or sidewalk, so that when the cover frame and movable lid are suitably attached thereto, the latter is exactly level with the said surface and will permit of freely walking over the same.

What may be termed the cover frame con sists of a cast metal ring 1, preferably cast iron, and provided on its upper surface with an annular, shallow channel 2 to lighten the structure and to aid in preventing pedestrians from slipping thereon.

The circular cover frame 1, which has its peripheral edge slightly undercut or beveled, has a downwardly projecting, annular flange 3, spaced from its peripheral edge, to fit within the upper openend of the cast iron pipe or other casing (not shown), and said flange is provided with a plurality of diametrically opposite perforated ears 4: for the reception of suitable bolts or other fastening means for securing the cover frame to said casing.

The opening 5 formed centrally of the frame 1 is surrounded by an integral depending fiange 6 of a depth substantially equal to the depth of the outer flange 3, and having its inner wall a continuation of the opening and slightly tapered downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The flange 6 is furthermore provided, at one side thereof, with a pair of associated, spaced lugs 7 and 8, respectively, formed integrally therewith and of the width of the flange and projecting downwardly therefrom, the inner faces of the lugs merging into the inner edge of a step or ledge 9 formed entirely around and extending inwardly from the lower portion of the flange 6. The. step or ledge forms a support for the lid which rests thereon.

The step or ledge 9 is cut away at 10, between the spaced lugs 7 and 8, and said cutaway portion or recess extends from the lug 7 substantially half the distance between the same and the lug 8, as clearly shown in 2 of the drawing, the said recess extending into the inner wall of the opening of the cover frame.

At a point diametrically opposite the spaced lugs 7 and 8, the depending inner flange 6 is further provided with an integral, perforated ear 11, extending down wardly from the same. It will be seen that the meter box cover frame, as thus described, is of simple construction and may be readily cast of suitable metal to form the same with one operation and produced ata very low cost.

A lid 12 similarly formed of cast metal in the form of a disc, of a diameter to snugly fit within the opening 5, is provided for the purpose of forming a closure for the frame 1, and said disk has its peripheral edge tapered to fit the wall of the said opening and rest upon the ledge 9, and in its upper surface a shallow, annular channel 13 is contained, for a purpose similar to the channel 2 in the cover frame.

A centrally located, transversely disposed boss or enlargement 1 1 is formed on the underside of the lidor disk 12, and the upper surface of the latter is provided with a groove 15, extending downwardly into the said boss, the said groove being crossed by a bridge piece 16, formed integrally with the lid and spaced from the bottom of the groove 15, to provide a finger hold to be grasped by the hand of the operator, or with a suitable tool, when it is desired to remove the lid from the frame, as will be readily understood.

The boss 14: is rectangular in form, as seen in Fig. 2, and is somewhat elongated, the length of the same extending in a line with diametrically opposite lugs 17 and 18 respectively, formed integrally with the lid and projecting from the under surface thereof.

The lug 18 has an outwardly extending lip 19 formed at the lower end thereof, and the opposite lug 17 is similarly provided with an outwardly extending lip 20, the outer edges of the lips 17 and 18 being in substantial alinement with the outer tapered edge of the lid 12.

'The upper faces of the lugs 17 and 18 are spaced from the peripheral edge of the dish, a distance substantially equal to the width of the step or ledge 9 of the cover frame, so that when the said lid is placed within the opening 5 of the frame 1, the marginal portion of the same will rest upon the seat or ledge 9,-and the outer faces of the opposed lugs 17 and 18 of the lid will lie adjacent to the inner edge of the ledge, and the lips 19 and 20 will lie beneath the said ledge.

The lug 18 is further provided with an integral, downwardly-extending perforated car 21, which lies adjacent to the car 11 of the cover frame, and the ears are adapted to receive bolts 22 for securing the end links of a short length of ordinary chain 23 for flexibly and permanently connecting the lid to the cover frame, as will be readily understood.

In order to apply the lid to the cover frame, assuming that the same may be removed from the meter box, it will be seen that by tilting the lid and resting the same upon the step or ledge 9 at a point adjacent to the lug 11, and closing the same within the opening 5 of the frame to rest upon the ledge 9, in such manner as to pass the lip 20 of the lug 17 through the cutaway portion 10 of the said step or ledge 9, the lower peripheral edge of the lid will rest upon said ledge 9, and by slightly turning the lid Within the opening 5 of the frame 1, the said lip 20 will ride beneath the adjacent portion of the ledge and prevent the upward movement of'the lid until the latter is again turned to bring the lip opposite the recess 10. The chain 23 will readily permit of this turning movement, and at the same time will prevent the removal of the lid from the frame, and the spaced lugs 7 and 8 on the under side of the frame will prevent the lid from being turned only a limited degree, so that it only requires a slight movement to turn the lug 17 from its contact with the stop lug 8 to a position opposite the cutaway portion 10, when that side of the lid may be elevated to an angle and the opposite lip 19 freed from its engagement with the lower face of the step or ledge 9, thus enabling the meter reader to quickly inspect the meter.

From the foregoing it will be seen. that a simple, cheaply manufactured, strong and durable meter box cover has been provided, which may be readily installed upon the said box and which enables the meter reader to quickly inspect the meter and cover the same again.

What is claimed is A meter box cover comprising a frame provided with an opening surrounded by a circumferential depending flange having an inwardly directed ledge, spaced lugs serving as stops formed at two points on said flange and depending therefrom, the said ledge being cut away from one lug part way to the other lug, an integral perforated ear at a point on the frame opposite the spaced lugs, a disk shaped lid adapted to fit the opening in the frame and rest upon the ledge, said lid having diametrically opposite depending lugs provided with outstanding lips, the lip of one lug at one side of the lid being of a size to pass through the cut-away portion of the ledge and engage beneath the latter and permitting the lid to be turned until the lip conand yet allow a limited turning movement tacts with the other lug and thus looks the of the lid. lid to the frame, the lug at the other side In testimony that I claim the foregoing 10 of the lid having a depending perforated as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa- 5 ear opposite the ear of the frame, and a. ture.

flexible connection joining the two ears to permanently connect the lid to the cover ALFRED C. SPITZNAGEL. 

